Method and apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages from bulk containers



June 16, 1964 F. wELTY ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES FROM BULK CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. l5, 1960 INVENTOR 3 FRANK WE LTY RAYMOND WE LT Y f ATTORNEY June 16, 1964 F WELTY ETAL 3,137,326

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED Filed Sept 15, 1960 BEVERAGES FROM BULK CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK WELTY RAYMOND WELTY /tduaw ATTOR EY United States Patent 3,137,326 l METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES FROM BULK CONTAINERS Frank Welty, 4962 Lockwood Blvd., and Raymond D. Welty, 4307 Lake Road, both of Youngstown, Ohio Filed Sept. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 56,244 3 Claims. (Cl. 141-18) The present invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages from transportable bulk containers, particularly of the kind in which the container is pre-charged with compressed gas or air whereby the beverage may be controllably expelled from the container under the pressure thus provided in the container. It is proposed by the present invention to advance the art of distributing in bulk prepared. carbonated beverages such as beer and' cola drinks, for example, to eliminatethe necessity of employing large quantities of cans or bottles, while yet providing a dispensing container which is compact and has a total space to beverage volume ratio of such practicality as to allow the container to be stored and kept cold in a household refrigerator. The primary object of the invention is the provision of improved apparatus for carrying out the abovedistribuassembled beveragestoring and dispensing unit capable of use in the home;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the apparatus ofv FIG- URE 1'; v

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1; and` the disclosure of this co-pending application, positioned within the` tank is a collapsiblejbag 13 which is fabricated from strong impermeable plastic material to provide `:a

- barrier betweenthe beverage contained within the bag tion method, and of improved procedures for preparing such apparatus to receive the beverage at the brewers or at the bottlers plant. The teaching of the present invention is concerned primarily with structural features of apparatus and with procedures for conditioning the apparatus to receive the beverage designed to overcome the known serious problem in` such systems of preventing excess foaming when beer is dispensed or excessive loss of carbonation when cola drinks, for example, are dispensed.

To satisfy the 'practical requirements `of the above outlined beverage distributing systemr in a practical sense, it is desirable that the pre-charged transporting container have a capacity of somewhat of the order of nine quarts so that the containers may be readily handled, be easily stored in a household refrigerator, while yet having substantial capacity to make the transporting of the container worthwhile. Thus, the container will normally. be removed from the refrigerator on isuccessive occasions for dispensing of the beverage, which usage, in'conjunction with the possibility that the beverage itself will have vvide-V ly varying temperatures and pressures at time of dispensing, makes for an exceedinglydiicult problem of building and operating the dispensing portions of Ythe system in such manner that excessive foaming or loss of carbona-- tion is avoided. It is Well known that in the case'of carbonated beverages generally lower temperatures and higher pressuresk make it easier to retain more of the gas inthe liquid while in the case of beer,agitation of the con-A tents, as may result from removal of the container from the refrigerator, promotes foaming of the beer` in the dispensing faucet.

above improvements While yet restricting the vnecessary and a compressed expelling gas, normally air, which is interposed between the `tank and the bag. Also, in accordance with the disclosure of said co-pending application we provide, on the face of the cap 12, a dispensing faucet 14 and combined relief and expellant charging valve 15.

The apparatus of the present invention is concerned with improved passage or iconduit means to bring the liquid from the body of the same storedin the bag` 13 Ainto the discharge chamber of lthe faucet 14 in such manner that break-out ofthe carbonating gas kis eliminated or at least greatly minimized so that beer foaming at thev faucet or material loss of `carbonation in the case of other drinks is avoided even under conditions of high'temperaturelor pressure and agitation lof the beverage. In general accordance with Vprior practice we provide within the vbag 13 a flexible restriction tube l16 which is connected at its inlet end t'o a weighted inlet fitting 17 and at its outlet eri'd to a 'fitting 1'8 which leads .to faucet. 14. For reasons to be later described, the tube 16 in thek present apparatus may be'rnuch shorter than that kheretofore employed in suitable sealing' rings,v as shown, are interposed between apparatus and the desired procedures on the preparation of the apparatus to receive the beverage to relatively sim#V ple compact devices and to simple tasks whereby the over.- al1 distributioncosts are kept to a minimum.

The above and other objects. andy advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration -of the following specification andthe accompanying drawing similar apparatus. f Y A The removable capV member 12 is formed With an integral inwardly directedV flanged opening 20 in which is received the shank *21 of a molded plastic body'o'f the dispensing faucet 14. As shown, the"shank 21 has ai longitudinally disposed bore which' Aleads into a vcavity 22 of the valve'14 from which cavity the'beve'rage is-dis pensed by gravity downwardly through a valved opening in the bottom wall-'t thereof., Shank 21 r is 'exteriorly threaded inwardof the cap 12to.receive the fitting 18 and the shank and fittingV and between theI shanku and-flanged opening in cap member 12 tozprovide a fluid-tightassem'- bly; Fitting 18 isformed. withl a thru-bore to' the innerV o'rinlet nd of which is connected'the flexible restriction tube'16. YAstis well 'understood in the' art, the function of vthe ,tube 16 is to dissipate most of the staticlluid pressure whichjis vexistent vin the beverage uponventerin'g the inlet iitting`717, and whichmaybe of the order of r pounds` perlsquare inch when thecontaineris ,substantiali ly full of beverage-and vthe, volume of the-compressed ex-V pellant is relatively small.;4 However, "sinceit vis, desired to secure a substantiallyfjfull flowV upon openingfof the valve `14 the beverageissuing from the tube 16 must llow at a fairly rapid rate-,-the.static energy of the initial lluid: pressure beingtransposed into kinetic energy of the moving beverage at the discharge end of tube 16; y

Heretofore, the translationv ofthe rapidly moving beverage -ow at the discharge of the restriction tube into a large-volume low-velocity ilowat the, dispensing faucet without excessive foaming or loss of carbonation has been most diiiicult. We have observed that if at any point along this translational flow conditions are such as to initiate .any freeing of the carbonating gas, even in minute quantities, the bubbles or voids thus formed seem to encourage further and more voluminous escape of free gas and the resultant foaming or loss of carbonation progresses at a rapid rate. It should be understood that beverages such as beer have a rather tenacious surface tension so that, upon ebullition of the gas, multiple bubbles are succesively formed which causes foaming. in the case of other carbonated drinks, Where the percentage of organic iiavoring or coloring ingredients is less, foaming does not not so readily occur although the escape of carbonating gas, once started, also progresses very rapidly. It is the fundamental purpose of the present invention to prevent, insofar as possible, any initial break-out of the carbonating gas from the beverage during the movement of the beverage from the restriction line in the container assembly to the flow :filling the consumers glass. The method and apparatus of the invention designed to accomplish this stated result will now be described.

While it is more obvious that agitation or violent impingement of the iiowing beverage causes foaming and loss ofcarbonation, our experiments show that gas breakout may begin in micoscopic volumes along the beveragecontaining surfaces of the dispensing system, and that once this ebullition is initiated, it proceeds and grows rapidly to disturb-the -iiow and cause foaming or serious loss of carbonation. VThus, a thoroughly sterilized and wetted open glass will retain water charged with four oriive volumes of CO2 with very little ebullition. If, however, the sterilized glass is allowed to dry before the charged Water is put into it, there is a much greater loss of the gas. -It is believed that due to the surface tension characteristic of the liquid, minute voids are formed about microscopic dust -particles and that gas break-out is initiated into these voids. Also, experiments have shorwn that impurities in the material of the containing surfaces encourage the initiation of y Vebullition of the gas. For example, machineable stainless steels of current manufacture contain appreciable sulphur which is not only a source of taste contamination but it also contributes to the initiation of gas ebullition. 'For the same reasons, untreated rubber sealing rings are objectionable. Y

To overcome the above objections, we have found that unexpectedly good results are obtained by first treating all the passages in the beverage dispensing system which may contain the stainless steel and rubber parts with suitable detergents and acids to remove all organic material, dust, surface sulphur etc., after which the parts are soaked for a long period ottimetwenty to forty hours,

for example-in a medium strength phosphoric acid soluf tion. Thereafter the parts are rinsed with clean sterile water and are kept Wet continuously up to the time that beverage is stored in them which in the case of the particular apparatus disclosed in the present application is when the space within the bag 13 is filled with beverage by injection through the faucet 14. kA resilient expandable ring 2.3.housed in an annular grooveformed in iittinglS and communicating with the longitudinal bore therein is provided to allow rapid lling of the container through the open faucet 14. A measured'quantity of `beverage is thus'injected, and it should be apparent that' upon subsequent closing of the faucet 14 all the dispensing passages inwardly of the valve at the bottom wall of cavityv 22 will remain .filled with liquid untilther container is subsequently empty. We have found that this treating ofthe passages with phosphoric acid and the-subsequent continuous wetting of the passages very greatly reduces the unstable tendency of Athe dispensing system to trigger off foaming and substantial kloss `of carbon-ation from the liquid being dispensed. v Y To eliminateimpingement of the beverage as it issues in a" jet-like stream from Vthe tube 16, We specially conl struct the passageA through fitting 18 leading to valve 14 in a manner shown representatively and more clearly in FIGURE 3 of the drawing. Thus, *littedrinto a taper 24 in the inlet end of fitting 18 is a tubular member 25 having an inward extension 26 spaced radially inward from the bore through fitting 18 and having a number of circumferentially spaced apertures 27 in its side wall aligned with radial apertures in the fitting 18 which lead to the groove containing the ring 213. Member 25 also forms a connection for tube 16, as shown. i

inwardly of the end of extension 26 the bore through iitting 13 is enlarged to tightly receive one end of a tubular member 28. The bore through fitting 18 is further enlarged to provide an annular interstice between the bore and a portion of the tube Z8, and Within this portion there is formed a plurality of apertures 30. y The inner end of tube 28 is expanded as shown at 31k to provide a thin interstice betwen the bore through shank 21 of the valve 14 and the peripheral surface of this expanded portion of tube Z8. Apertures 32 are *formed in the side wall of this expanded portion 31 of the tube 28. p

In the operation of the passage assembly described immediately above, the rapidly moving liquid issuing from the tube 16 is rst divided by the apertures 27 in tubular' member 2S into two streams, the iirst being a solid stream within extension Z6 and the second being an annular stream surrounding the extension 26. The liquid which goes out through the apertures Z'Imakes two right-angled turns and in doing so dissipates most of its kinetic energy.

The annular stream thus moves much slower than 4the solid stream and as it enfolds the latter at the discharge of extension 26 it dampens the iiow of the latter without any abrupt impingement. This process is repeated in substantially the same manner by the tube 2.8 so that as the liquid arrives at the cavity 22 of the-faucet 14 its velocity*V and pressure are reduced to the point that the flow is quiet and slow. Faucet 1.4 is of the kind `described and claimedin our co-pendingapplication Serial No. 826,958 filed Iuly 14, 1959, now Patent No. 3,082,783, dated March 26, 1963, whereinthe vparts are: so proportioned l that the inlet bore and the cavityl Y22 are so proportioned in relation to the valve outlet and that cavity 22 always remains tilled with liquid while the discharge from the faucet is substantially under free gravity how conditions.

We believe that the primary merit of the conduit system disclosed herein lies in the fact that the kinetic energy in the moving jet stream of the liquid issuing from the tube 16 is dissipated in the right-angled turns effected by the openings 27, 3) and 32 and in the fact that the resultant confined iiow increases the friction to fur-ther reduce kinetic energy. Under certain conditions We have found,Y that the discharge ends of tubes 25 and 28 may be closed off entirely without appreciable increase in foaming or loss of carbonation although it should'be recognized! that,

depending on the internaldiameter of tube 16 and itsY .i

length, the volume of restricted. g V v In using the 'assembled apparatus described above, and immediately prior to the refilling or recharging of Vthe flow may be thereby somewhat assembly, all the parts are, of course, thoroughlycleaned and sterilized and then reassembled into the unit shown in FIGURE -1. Of course, vthe phosphoric'acid aging step;

need not be employed after the rst use of the apparatus, i

and the inner surface of the bag`13`may either be cleanedcontainer. As explained more fully in said co-pending application Serial No. 24,833, an expellant is first introduced into the assembly through valve- 15 ,whichcollapses the b'ag`13, expelling practicallyallthe air Which` may be contained therein. At'thisf stage-the dispensing faucet 14 is, of course, open. A `tube, not shown, Yfor deVefIlg bSl/erag under pressure is now inserted in their discharge taper of faucet 14 and with the faucet remaining open the bag 13 will be filled with a measured quantity of beverage against the back pressure of the expellant, and this back pressure may be controlled either by suitable relief means associated with the conduit, not shown, previously attached to valve 14 or by the valve 15 itself which is a relief valve. It should be observed that the wetted dispensing passages are completely filled with the beverage immediately upon the start of beverage charging and that these passages remain so lled continuously down to the time that the container is emptied of beverage. Thus, not only are sterile and sanitary conditions maintained but the dispensing passages are so continuously conditioned that there is little or no opportunity for the initiation of ebullition of carbonating gas from the beverage. By the use of the methods and apparatus herein disclosed, it is possible to always draw beer without excessive foaming and to always draw other carbonated beverages with a low loss of carbonation. It should therefore be readily apparent that the teachings of our invention accomplish the objects initially set out above.

Having thus described our invention, and being mindful that various changes may be made in the details and arrangement of the specific embodiments disclosed, reference should be made to the appended claims in determining the nature and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage from a pressurized supply source of the same comprising a dispensing faucet, an elongated small-diametered conduit to receive the beverage from said source and through which the beverage flows to dissipate the static pressure of the source, a fitting interposed between the discharge end of said conduit and said faucet and having a bore extending therethrough to provide a passage for the beverage discharged from said conduit, said bore being of increasing cross-sectional area in the direction of fluid flow, and a pair of longitudinally spaced tube-like inserts in said bore each adapted to receive the ow of liquid at its inlet end and each being open at i-ts outlet or downstream end, each of said inserts having portions extending upstream from their downstream ends spaced inwardly from the adjacent surfaces of said b ore to provide annular passages for liquid, and each of said inserts having at least one radial aperture in said portion to divert at least a portion of the liquid stream entering the inlet into said annular passage the arrangement being such that the solid stream of liquid issuing from the discharge end of each insert is engulfed by the annular stream of liquidissuing from the annular interstice formed by the bore of said fitting and an adjacent portion of the insert.

2. For use in a portable pressurized container for transporting and dispensing carbonated beverages and wherein a manually valved faucet is carried by a wall of the container for charging .the container with beverage and for dispensing the same into a consumers glass, an elongated fitting housed within the container and having a bore therethrough to receive beverage stored within the container and to deliver the same to said faucet, said bore being of increasing cross-sectional area in the direction of fluid flow when the beverage is being dispensed, an annular groove in said ittmg adjacent its dispensing inlet end and radial apertures interconnecting said bore and groove, a resilient deformable annular valving element in said groove, a tube anchored in said bore intermediate said groove and the dispensing inlet end of said bore and having an integral extension extending in said direction of uid flow past said radial apertures and into the bore beyond said apertures, said extension being of smaller diameter than the adjacent diameter of the bore to provide an annular passage for liquid, and radial apertures.

in 4said extension substantially aligned with the radial apertures in said fitting, the arrangement being such that upon .the charging of beverage into said container through l said faucet fluid may flow into said groove and outV past said valving element whereas during dispensing of the beverage the beverage flows both in a solid stream through the center of said tube and in an annular stream about said tube with said streams being reunited at the downstream end of said tube.

3. In apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage from a pressurized supply of the same comprising a dispensing faucet, an elongated small-diametered conduit to receive the beverage from said source and through which the beverage ows to dissipate the static pressure of the source, a fitting interposed between the discharge end of said conduit and said faucet and having a bore extending therethrough to provide a passage for the beverage discharged from said conduit, said bore being of increasing cross-sectional area in the direction of Huid flow, and a tube-like insert in said bore havingY a downstream end portion concentric within and spaced radially inward of the side wall of an enlarged portion of said bore, said tube-like insert being open at either end and having means whereby beverage entering said bore is divided into one solid stream concentrically within said insert and a second stream whichvis annular in cross section and outside of said insert, the arrangement being such that the solid stream of fluid issuing from the discharge end of said insert is engulfed by said annular stream to thereby kill the velocity of the said solid stream.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,091,042 Hedges Aug. 24, 1937 2,125,102 Cornelius July 26, 1938 2,423,155 Phillips July 1, 1947 2,458,230 vWarcup Jan. 4, 1949 2,609,984 Barnes Sept. 9, 1952 2,811,390 Kiraly Oct. 29, 1957 2,872,281 Kahler Feb. 3, 1959 2,900,222 Kahler Aug. 18, 1959 

2. FOR USE IN A PORTABLE PRESSURIZED CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES AND WHEREIN A MANUALLY VALVED FAUCET IS CARRIED BY A WALL OF THE CONTAINER FOR CHARGING THE CONTAINER WITH BEVERAGE AND FOR DISPENSING THE SAME INTO A CONSUMER''S GLASS, AN ELONGATED FITTING HOUSED WITHIN THE CONTAINER AND HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH TO RECEIVE BEVERAGE STORED WITHIN THE CONTAINER AND TO DELIVER THE SAME TO SAID FAUCET, SAID BORE BEING OF INCREASING CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA IN THE DIRECTION OF FLUID FLOW WHEN THE BEVERAGE IS BEING DISPENSED, AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN SAID FITTING ADJACENT ITS DISPENSING INLET END AND RADIAL APERTURES INTERCONNECTING SAID BORE AND GROOVE, A RESILIENT DEFORMABLE ANNULAR VALVING ELEMENT IN SAID GROOVE, A TUBE ANCHORED IN SAID BORE INTERMEDIATE SAID GROOVE AND THE DISPENSING INLET END OF SAID BORE AND HAVING AN INTEGRAL EXTENSION EXTENDING IN SAID DIRECTION OF FLUID FLOW PAST SAID RADIAL APERTURES AND INTO THE BORE BEYOND SAID APERTURES, SAID EXTENSION BEING OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN THE ADJACENT DIAMETER OF THE BORE TO PROVIDE AN ANNULAR PASSAGE FOR LIQUID, AND RADIAL APERTURES IN SAID EXTENSION SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE RADIAL APERTURES IN SAID FITTING, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT UPON THE CHARGING OF BEVERAGE INTO SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAID FAUCET FLUID MAY FLOW INTO SAID GROOVE AND OUT PAST SAID VALVING ELEMENT WHEREAS DURING DISPENSING OF THE BEVERAGE THE BEVERAGE FLOWS BOTH IN A SOLID STREAM THROUGH THE CENTER OF SAID TUBE AND IN AN ANNULAR STREAM ABOUT SAID TUBE WITH SAID STREAMS BEING REUNITED AT THE DOWNSTREAM END OF SAID TUBE. 